Things To Know About Cbd Tincture - The Latest Health Trend

By now, everybody is familiar with the medicinal benefits CBD offers. It is certainly all over the place these days. And as much as I know, there isn’t any media channel, newspaper or even magazine that is not covering this topic. CBD’s popularity among people in the United States is increasing quickly. But it’s popularity suddenly escalated when FDA (Food and Drug Administration) approved Epidiolex. An anti-seizure medicine derived from cannabis-sourced CBD.

The attention medical marijuana is garnering is mainly due to its changing legalization status in many states of the US. 33 states out of 50 have managed to conquer the battle against cannabis prohibition while other states are following in their footsteps. And thanks to its legalization, it has become a billion dollar industry in a short span of time.

Ever since cannabis has been legalized in many US states, it’s not uncommon to see plenty of CBD products hitting the market every now and then. From pre-rolled joints to vape pen to edibles, there are dozens of products available on the market.

CBD tincture is one of the latest trends of cannabis industry. It has become the most popular way of consuming CBD by many people in the nation.

Here are some things that you should know about CBD tinctures:

CBD and its use

CBD is an active compound present in cannabis and hemp. As a matter of fact, cannabis has hundreds of different cannabinoids and CBD is one of the most popular cannabinoids. It is well-recognized as a non-psychoactive compound that provides relief without getting you high. This means no matter how much CBD you consume, you won’t make you unconscious. CBD has been used to get relief from pain, inflammation and stress.

So what is a CBD tincture?

A CBD tincture is a concentrated herbal extract that contains high potent cannabidiol. It is available in liquid form and produced by soaking herbs in a liquid. After a few weeks, the liquid gets infused with herbal extracts, and when it is filtered, you get CBD tincture.

Over the past few years, the liquid used to produce CBD tincture has changed. However, the process has remained the same.

How do you take tincture?

Okay, before we answer the question, we recommend getting in touch with a certified therapist or physician and ask her how much you should consume. It’s always a good idea to consult a doctor before taking any kind of cannabis-infused product.

Now let’s jump to the real question - how should you take tincture?

There are basically two ways of consuming CBD tincture - sublingual or externally by rubbing it on the skin.

After taking the liquid in the dropper, you can either put it under your tongue or rub it on the problem area to get relief.

Patients with medical conditions like muscle soreness, joint pain, tendonitis, and arthritis often use the second method. However, people with depression, anxiety, and stress, consume it orally.

Today, you can easily find a taste-bud friendly CBD tincture on the market. And if taste is not a huge factor here, you can always add a drop or two of tincture in your foods, smoothie, drink or even a cup of coffee.

How much you should take?

Well, it’s more complicated than you think. Every person is different and has different requirement. So it basically depends on your condition and preference. Even though there is no harm in consuming higher dosage of CBD tincture, it is still recommended to talk to your doctor. Additionally, try and experiment with it for a week and see how much will help you get the much needed relief. This way you can yourself estimate your requirement.

CBD tincture is indeed a great way of consuming CBD as it also provides quick results. If you are planning to buy CBD tincture, make sure you cannabis card is valid. And if it’s not, apply for a cannabiscard renewal today.


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What is medical marijuana?

The term medical marijuana refers to using the whole, unprocessed marijuana plant or its basic extracts to treat symptoms of illness and other conditions. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not recognized or approved the marijuana plant as medicine.

Image Source: @shutterstock.com/g/Atomazul

However, scientific study of the chemicals in marijuana, called cannabinoids, has led to two FDA-approved medications that contain cannabinoid chemicals in pill form. Continued research may lead to more medications.

Because the marijuana plant contains chemicals that may help treat a range of illnesses and symptoms, many people argue that it should be legal for medical purposes. In fact, a growing number of states have legalized marijuana for medical use.

Why isn’t the marijuana plant an FDA-approved medicine?

The FDA requires carefully conducted studies (clinical trials) in hundreds to thousands of human subjects to determine the benefits and risks of a possible medication. So far, researchers haven't conducted enough large-scale clinical trials that show that the benefits of the marijuana plant (as opposed to its cannabinoid ingredients) outweigh its risks in patients it's meant to treat.

Read more about the various physical, mental, and behavioral effects of marijuana in our Marijuana DrugFacts.

Can Medical Marijuana Legalization Decrease Prescription Opioid Problems?

Some studies have suggested that medical marijuana legalization might be associated with decreased prescription opioid use and overdose deaths, but researchers don't have enough evidence yet to confirm this finding. For example, one study found that Medicare Part D prescriptions filled for all opioids decreased in states with medical marijuana laws.1 Another study examined Medicaid prescription data and found that medical marijuana laws and adult-use marijuana laws were associated with lower opioid prescribing rates (5.88 percent and 6.88 percent lower, respectively).2

Additionally, one NIDA-funded study suggested a link between medical marijuana legalization and fewer overdose deaths from prescription opioids.3 These studies, however, are population-based and can’t show that medical marijuana legalization caused the decrease in deaths or that pain patients changed their drug-taking behavior.4,5 A more detailed NIDA-funded analysis showed that legally protected medical marijuana dispensaries, not just medical marijuana laws, were also associated with a decrease in the following:6

• opioid prescribing
• self-reports of opioid misuse
• treatment admissions for opioid addiction

Additionally, some data suggests that medical marijuana treatment may reduce the opioid dose prescribed for pain patients,7,8 while another recent NIH-funded study suggests that cannabis use appears to increase the risk of developing and opioid use disorder.9 NIDA is funding additional studies to determine the link between medical marijuana use and the use or misuse of opioids for specific types of pain, and also its possible role for treatment of opioid use disorder. Read more in our Marijuana Research Report.

What are cannabinoids?

Cannabinoids are chemicals related to delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), marijuana’s main mind-altering ingredient that makes people "high." The marijuana plant contains more than 100 cannabinoids. Scientists as well as illegal manufacturers have produced many cannabinoids in the lab. Some of these cannabinoids are extremely powerful and have led to serious health effects when misused. Read more in our Synthetic Cannabinoids (K2/Spice) DrugFacts.

The body also produces its own cannabinoid chemicals. They play a role in regulating pleasure, memory, thinking, concentration, body movement, awareness of time, appetite, pain, and the senses (taste, touch, smell, hearing, and sight).

How might cannabinoids be useful as medicine?

Currently, the two main cannabinoids from the marijuana plant that are of medical interest are THC and CBD. 

THC can increase appetite and reduce nausea. THC may also decrease pain, inflammation (swelling and redness), and muscle control problems.Unlike THC, CBD is a cannabinoid that doesn't make people "high." These drugs aren't popular for recreational use because they aren't intoxicating. It may be useful in reducing pain and inflammation, controlling epileptic seizures, and possibly even treating mental illness and addictions. Many researchers, including those funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), are continuing to explore the possible uses of THC, CBD, and other cannabinoids for medical treatment.

For instance, recent animal studies have shown that marijuana extracts may help kill certain cancer cells and reduce the size of others. Evidence from one cell culture study with rodents suggests that purified extracts from whole-plant marijuana can slow the growth of cancer cells from one of the most serious types of brain tumors. Research in mice showed that treatment with purified extracts of THC and CBD, when used with radiation, increased the cancer-killing effects of the radiation.10

                              Image Source: @shutterstock.com/g/AlexRaths

Scientists are also conducting preclinical and clinical trials with marijuana and its extracts to treat symptoms of illness and other conditions, such as:

• diseases that affect the immune system, including:
  • HIV/AIDS
  • multiple sclerosis (MS), which causes gradual loss of muscle control
• inflammation
• pain
• seizures
• substance use disorders
• mental disorders

Read more about the NIH’s marijuana research:

• Marijuana and Cannabinoid Research at NIDA
• NIH Research on Marijuana and Cannabinoids

Using Medical Marijuana During and After Pregnancy

Some women report using marijuana to treat severe nausea they have during pregnancy. But there's no research that shows that this practice is safe, and doctors generally don't recommend it. 

Pregnant women shouldn't use medical marijuana without first checking with their health care provider. Animal studies have shown that moderate amounts of THC given to pregnant or nursing women could have long-lasting effects on the child, including abnormal patterns of social interactions11 and learning issues.12,13 Read more in our Substance Use in Women Research Report.

What medications contain cannabinoids?

Two FDA-approved drugs, dronabinol and nabilone, contain THC. They treat nausea caused by chemotherapy and increase appetite in patients with extreme weight loss caused by AIDS. Continued research might lead to more medications. 

The FDA approved a CBD-based liquid medication called Epidiolex® for the treatment of two forms of severe childhood epilepsy, Dravet syndrome and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome

The United Kingdom, Canada, and several European countries have approved nabiximols (Sativex®), a mouth spray containing THC and CBD. It treats muscle control problems caused by MS, but it isn't FDA-approved.

Points to Remember

• The term medical marijuana refers to treating symptoms of illness and other conditions with the whole, unprocessed marijuana plant or its basic extracts.
• The FDA has not recognized or approved the marijuana plant as medicine.
• However, scientific study of the chemicals in marijuana called cannabinoids has led to two FDA-approved medications in pill form, dronabinol and nabilone, used to treat nausea and boost appetite.
• Cannabinoids are chemicals related to delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), marijuana’s main mind-altering ingredient.
• Currently, the two main cannabinoids from the marijuana plant that are of interest for medical treatment are THC and cannabidiol (CBD).
• The body also produces its own cannabinoid chemicals.
• Scientists are conducting preclinical and clinical trials with marijuana and its extracts to treat symptoms of illness and other conditions.

References

1. Bradford AC, Bradford D, Abraham AJ, Bagwell Adams G. Association Between US State Medical Cannabis Laws and Opioid Prescribing in the Medicare Part D Population. JAMA Intern Med. April 2018. doi:10.1001/jamainternmed.2018.0266
2. Wen H, Hockenberry J. Association of Medical and Adult-Use Marijuana Laws With Opioid Prescribing for Medicaid Enrollees. JAMA Intern Med.doi:10.1001/jamainternmed.2018.1007
3. Bachhuber MA, Saloner B, Cunningham CO, Barry CL. Medical cannabis laws and opioid analgesic overdose mortality in the United States, 1999-2010. JAMA Intern Med. 2014;174(10):1668-1673. doi:10.1001/jamainternmed.2014.4005.
4. Finney JW, Humphreys K, Harris AHS. What ecologic analyses cannot tell us about medical marijuana legalization and opioid pain medication mortality. JAMA Intern Med. 2015;175(4):655-656. doi:10.1001/jamainternmed.2014.8006.
5. Bachhuber MA, Saloner B, Barry CL. What ecologic analyses cannot tell us about medical marijuana legalization and opioid pain medication mortality--reply. JAMA Intern Med. 2015;175(4):656-657. doi:10.1001/jamainternmed.2014.8027.
6. Powell D, Pacula RL, Jacobson M. Do Medical Marijuana Laws Reduce Addiction and Deaths Related to Pain Killers?RAND Corporation; 2015. https://www.rand.org/pubs/external_publications/EP67480.html. Accessed April 6, 2017.
7. Abrams DI, Couey P, Shade SB, Kelly ME, Benowitz NL. Cannabinoid-opioid interaction in chronic pain. Clin Pharmacol Ther. 2011;90(6):844-851. doi:10.1038/clpt.2011.188.
8. Lynch ME, Clark AJ. Cannabis reduces opioid dose in the treatment of chronic non-cancer pain. J Pain Symptom Manage. 2003;25(6):496-498.
9. Olfson M, Wall MM, Liu S-M, Blanco C. Cannabis Use and Risk of Prescription Opioid Use Disorder in the United States. Am J Psychiatry. 2017;175(1):47-53. doi:10.1176/appi.ajp.2017.17040413
10. Scott KA, Dalgleish AG, Liu WM. The combination of cannabidiol and Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol enhances the anticancer effects of radiation in an orthotopic murine glioma model. Mol Cancer Ther. 2014;13(12):2955-2967. doi:10.1158/1535-7163.MCT-14-0402.
11. Trezza V, Campolongo P, Cassano T, et al. Effects of perinatal exposure to delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol on the emotional reactivity of the offspring: a longitudinal behavioral study in Wistar rats. Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2008;198(4):529-537. doi:10.1007/s00213-008-1162-3.
12. Antonelli T, Tomasini MC, Tattoli M, et al. Prenatal exposure to the CB1 receptor agonist WIN 55,212-2 causes learning disruption associated with impaired cortical NMDA receptor function and emotional reactivity changes in rat offspring. Cereb Cortex N Y N 1991. 2005;15(12):2013-2020. doi:10.1093/cercor/bhi076.
13. Mereu G, Fà M, Ferraro L, et al. Prenatal exposure to a cannabinoid agonist produces memory deficits linked to dysfunction in hippocampal long-term potentiation and glutamate release. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2003;100(8):4915-4920. doi:10.1073/pnas.0537849100.

Source: National Institute on Drug Abuse

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